Rokukannon Pond

An early autumn walk along the Ikemeguri Nature Trail

Tristan Scholze Mar 21, 2014 - 2 min read

<p>Rokukannon Pond from near the shrine, with Mt. Karakuni</p>

<p>Part of the trail goes through a forest</p>

<p>This grand cedar is said to be 500-some years old, transplanted from Yaku Island long ago</p>

<p>Like many places with both Buddhist and Shinto roots, the building can be referred to as Rokukannon Temple or Toyoke Shrine</p>

<p>This sign tells the story of Shoku and his vision</p>

<p>Rokukannon Pond is over 400 m (1,312 ft) in diameter</p>

<p>The park service posts interesting geological information for significant features of the trail in English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese</p>

<p>This view reminds you you're hiking in Ebino Kogen, a plateau 1,200 m (3,937 ft) high</p>

<p>I love the varieties of moss and mushrooms all along the trail</p>

<p>This looks like a female red-flanked bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus), hiding in a thicket</p>

<p>You'll hear birds all around you; this is a Japanese pygmy woodpecker (Dendrocopos kizuki)</p>

<p>Reeds and deciduous trees line the path here</p>

<p>You'll find cairns throughout Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park</p>

<p>Mt. Karakuni in the setting sun; autumn foliage is just beginning to show</p>

<p>A deer nears the path in the late afternoon</p>

<p>As you approach Fudo Pond, the next stage of the trail, the landscape changes again</p>

Soon after Byakushi Pond on the Ikemeguri Nature Trail, you’ll come to Rokukannon Pond. Along the beautiful cobalt blue waters of this volcanic crater lake, you’ll pass a shrine. Here you’ll find giant cedars, an old dark red torii and building, and fine views of the water and Mt. Karakuni.

Records indicate that Shoku, a monk who studied here in the late 900s, had a vision of an old man and became inspired to create six Buddhist statues of Kannon—the pond's namesake. From the shrine onward, the trees along the lake resonate with birdsong then open into a mixture of grassy plains and woodland before reaching Fudo Pond.

六観音御池—rokukannon-miike—Rokukannon Pond 六観音堂—rokukannon-dou—Rokukannon Temple 豊受神社—toyouke jinja—Toyoke Shrine 性空—shoukuu—Shoku ルリビタキ—ruribitaki—Red-flanked Bluetail コゲラ—kogera—Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker

Tristan Scholze @tristan.scholze

I'm also known as Faer Out. I love learning about people and nature. I've traveled around the world and throughout Japan, and I hope to continue seeing and experiencing the wonder of this planet as long as I live.Based in Japan for nearly two decades, I'm a Japan Travel expert for Fukuoka and Sag...